A device management locker is a secure, smart system built to store, charge, track, and control access to mobile devices. Unlike traditional charging carts, which focus only on power and storage, lockers add automation, user authentication, and precise usage tracking.
As organizations expand their device programs, many now rely on LocknCharge for connected locker platforms. They simplify device access, improve visibility, and strengthen control across schools, workplaces, healthcare facilities, and public institutions.
This guide examines the key differences between charging carts and device management lockers to help IT and operations leaders choose the most effective solution.
TL;DR
- Charging carts meet basic storage and power needs, but they cannot manage check-outs, track users, or automate device workflows — smart lockers can.
- As device programs expand, locker-based access systems provide a practical and scalable solution for maintaining order without requiring additional manual work.
- Real-time visibility, user authentication, and automation tools built into device management lockers make them ideal for audit-driven environments such as schools, healthcare facilities, and government offices.
- Organizations using LocknCharge smart lockers have reported a reduction of up to 80% in device management time, allowing IT teams to focus on higher-value priorities.
The problem with traditional charging carts
Charging carts have transformed device programs for the better. They brought structure to disorganized spaces once filled with tangled cords and scattered adapters. For many schools and workplaces, they remain essential charging and secure storage solutions that provide convenience and protection for valuable equipment.
However, as device fleets expand and day-to-day workflows become more demanding, traditional charging carts begin to reveal their limitations in environments that require automation, accountability, and remote management:
- Manual check-in and check-out processes create delays and confusion. IT teams spend valuable time tracking who borrowed a device, when it was used, and whether it was returned in good condition.
- Most carts lack authentication or access controls, making it difficult to prevent unauthorized users from handling sensitive or costly equipment.
- Without built-in monitoring tools, IT departments lack visibility into device status and usage, making it harder to resolve issues or identify misuse.
- Missing keys and unreturned devices cause avoidable disruptions across classrooms, departments, and entire organizations.
- Adding more carts may expand capacity, but it does not solve core challenges related to tracking, access control, and accountability.
Charging carts will continue to play a vital role in many deployments. Yet organizations seeking greater control, automation, and real-time visibility increasingly turn to device management lockers to close the operational gaps that traditional carts were never meant to address.
Charging cart alternatives: Device management lockers
Device management lockers belong to a broader category known as smart lockers. What distinguishes them is their dedicated focus on tech fleet management, supporting the full lifecycle of shared, loaned, or personal mobile devices at scale.
Like charging carts, device management lockers provide convenient charging. But they go further — introducing advanced capabilities that reduce manual IT work and strengthen accountability across users:
- Digital access control eliminates physical keys, giving IT full control over who accesses devices — unlike with charging carts
- Automated workflows support a wide range of daily tasks beyond charging — including self-serve deployments, loans, and returns
- A secure cloud portal lets IT administrators monitor activity and manage lockers remotely — no need to be on site
- Built-in audit trails and reports offer real-time visibility into smart locker usage and access activity
- Integration with identity management and asset tracking systems streamlines user provisioning and IT ticketing processes
- Scalable, modular design allows easy relocation or expansion across multiple sites
Additional reading: What is a smart locker? Discover the various types, features, and practical applications of smart lockers.
Key features of LocknCharge device management lockers
LocknCharge FUYL Smart Charging Lockers are designed to automate daily tasks, empower users, and grow with your organization — not simply store devices. From forgotten loaners to large-scale deployments, FUYL manages each step of the process, freeing your team from repetitive device handling.
Here are the features of LocknCharge device charging lockers:
- FUYL Kiosk. A built-in touchscreen iPad interface lets users check out, return, or access devices on their own — no IT help required.
- FUYL Portal. A secure, cloud-based dashboard gives admins full control to manage users, locker bays, workflows, alerts, and activity logs from anywhere.
- Workflow setup. Preloaded workflows for charging, repairs, deployments, and loans can be easily customized by role, location, or organizational need.
- Flexible hardware. Choose from 5, 8, 15, or 23-bay locker options — all designed to fit your space and device mix.
- Secure login. Secure login options via SSO, barcode, QR code, or username/password at the kiosk.
- Integrations. Built-in support for Microsoft Azure SSO, Freshservice, and asset tracking systems makes setup faster and automation easier.
- Support. Expert onboarding, ongoing check-ins, and a helpful knowledge base ensure your team gets the most from your system.
Additional reading: How does a smart locker work? Explore our guide for IT teams.
Who benefits from device management lockers?
Smart charging lockers are best suited for settings where mobile devices are frequently shared, loaned, or deployed on a large scale — including classrooms, hybrid workplaces, healthcare environments, and public-sector institutions.
Eliminating chaos in the classroom
In the U.S., 57% of educators report helping students replace devices at least once per week, taking time away from classroom instruction. In 1:1 device programs, intelligent locker systems help eliminate these inefficiencies by simplifying daily device handoffs.
Students can borrow or return Chromebooks and iPads independently, without waiting for IT assistance or disrupting lessons. As teachers are freed from these repetitive tasks, classroom interruptions decrease, and learning time improves.
IT teams gain the ability to monitor device usage remotely and receive alerts when items are not returned on schedule. This capability enhances student device management, promoting accountability and reducing device loss, particularly in environments where students frequently move between classrooms. Based on LocknCharge’s customer data, schools using smart lockers recover around 360 IT staff hours each year per team.
Managing devices in hybrid workplaces
Around 56% of IT professionals report an increase in help desk ticket volume, and 40% attribute this increase to flexible working — a trend that continues across hybrid organizations. As employees move between home and on-site work, managing shared mobile devices has become more complicated and time-consuming for IT teams.
Device management lockers offer a practical solution by providing employees with secure, self-service access to laptops or tablets without relying on IT support desks. A worker arriving on-site can log into the locker kiosk, retrieve a pre-assigned device, and start work in minutes.
If a device is damaged or needs replacement, a built-in drop-off and pick-up workflow supports quick turnaround. Employees gain independence, and IT teams regain valuable time for higher-impact projects.
Simplifying access in healthcare settings
Around 77% of hospital leaders report that clinical staff spend excessive time searching for medical equipment, and 76% agree their organizations need stronger systems to report out-of-stock or missing inventory. These inefficiencies often disrupt care delivery and increase the risk of safety incidents.
When clinical teams share tablets or scanners across shifts, secure device lockers create a controlled and hygienic handoff point. A nurse completing a round can return a device for charging, and the next shift retrieves a fully charged replacement without delay.
Connected to asset management systems, smart lockers give healthcare facilities greater control over their device fleets, reducing downtime and ensuring continuity in patient care.
Securing mobile devices for public operations
In areas such as elections, tablets and laptops support essential administrative functions, including voter check-in through electronic poll books, ballot tracking, and logistics coordination.
Federal agencies such as the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) recommend strict chain-of-custody protocols to safeguard high-value assets and maintain transparency in public-sector operations.
The smart locker benefits in this context lie in their ability to help agencies meet rigorous accountability standards. An IT asset management locker system provides government offices and field teams with secure, authenticated access to shared mobile devices such as rugged laptops and tablets.
Each access event is logged, establishing a verifiable audit trail that supports compliance and deters misuse. In distributed or high-traffic environments, these asset management lockers keep equipment protected and traceable under documented, controlled conditions.
The ROI of smart device management
The return on investment (ROI) often exceeds the smart locker cost several times over. Here are several ways device management lockers help control costs and improve efficiency in shared device environments:
- Reduce device loss and downtime. Lockers establish a transparent audit trail of device custody, deterring misuse and making recovery easier when items are misplaced or stolen.
- Save IT time. LocknCharge customers report saving up to 80% of their time on device management tasks. This translates into thousands of dollars in long-term labor savings, allowing IT teams to focus on more strategic priorities.
- Maintain operational continuity. Automated locker workflows minimize downtime during shift changes or equipment failures, keeping employees productive and preventing operational delays.
A clear example is Kingsway Christian College, which regained more than an hour of IT capacity per day after deploying FUYL Smart Lockers.
Kingsway Christian College — 75% reduction in device loan time
Kingsway Christian College, a K–12 school in Western Australia serving more than 1,500 students and 280 staff, adopted FUYL Smart Lockers to streamline its daily laptop loan process for relief teachers.
With around 25 device loans each day, the previous manual system placed ongoing pressure on IT resources and disrupted higher-priority support work. Although the school already used LocknCharge charging carts for storage and charging, it introduced smart lockers to automate a repetitive workflow that required frequent IT involvement.
Key outcomes of this deployment:
- Relief staff can scan their SharePoint ID, open a bay, and collect a fully charged device without IT assistance.
- Integration with Microsoft Power Automate through webhooks removed manual data entry errors and created precise records of which user borrowed each device and when.
- Access logs linked to individual users increased accountability and simplified follow-ups on overdue or misplaced laptops.
- The school achieved an estimated 75% reduction in time spent on loan device management, reclaiming over an hour of IT capacity during peak usage periods.
Final thoughts
- Device management lockers mark the next step in the evolution of traditional charging carts, offering greater control and automation.
- Smart lockers are particularly effective for shared device management at scale, where accountability, visibility, and operational efficiency matter most.
- As mobile technology becomes increasingly integral to education, healthcare, and public-sector operations, smart infrastructure such as connected lockers will shape how organizations manage secure device access.
Discover how LocknCharge Smart Lockers simplify the way you charge, track, repair, deploy, and protect mobile devices — all within a unified system.
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